Hand Cramps

Sawatdee ka! I've begun Thai lessons with a friend. He is teaching 3 of us foreigners the alphabet so that we will be able to read and write. (I have another friend who is teaching me conversation.) We started our little class on Tuesday. He photocopied every page of a child's book. And everyday (for 3 days now), we get together and go over the characters and the sounds that they make. He assigns us a few characters to practice as homework. And by few, I mean the first day we had 8. I didn't finish after spending an hour and a half on them. The second day he assigned 16. Realizing that it took way more time than I thought, I began the homework earlier the third day. I spent over 5 hours tracing these letters and only got 3/4 of the way through. I have never in my life spent this much concentrated time on homework. My hand was hurting. I have calluses on my fingers from gripping my pen so tightly. Thursday, we were assigned the remaining 20 characters, but luckily we won't meet again until Monday night, so I can spread out the work load. I think I'm getting it quicker now (either that or we're passed the difficult characters), because yesterday I got through 6 characters in a little over an hour. Thursday, it took me 30 minutes to do one. But you know what? All the time and the hand cramps are worth it. My letters are so pretty and they come pretty effortlessly. I'm going to have great penmanship. It's just too bad that the rest of the Thais don't write so legibly.. Oh well. I'll let you know how Thai is going next time I update.

In other news, I've heard that maybe the water won't come to Bangkapi after all. There has been word that the situation is getting better and that it's starting to drain to the sea. But I've also heard that it's getting closer. So we just have to wait and see, but I feel like maybe it won't come after all.

A lot of this week was spent trying to figure out my plans for what's ahead. I currently have no paid position, and no where is hiring, so that means getting a year long visa right now is not an option. After much thought and prayer and seeking counsel from a bajillion folks, something felt right. If all goes according to plan (we still have to check with immigration to see if it's possible), I will be getting a 30-day extension on my visa in Bangkok. That will get me through til right after Christmas. At that point, I will take a bus to Laos, where I will apply for another 2 month tourist visa. I was told this is pretty cost efficient and it will only take a day or two. And then when I do locate a job and have to change visas, I will have to fly out of the country, so at that point I will be able to visit my uncle. I say I need to check with immigration because there was some debate about how much time I could extend my visa for. One person said only 7 days, which is ridiculous and would thus put a damper on my plans. However, if what I read online is correct, that 7-day extension applies to those who come in without a visa and remain for 30 days. I'm hoping it is true that a 60-day tourist visa can be extended for 30 days. Pray with me that this is the case!


That's it for now. I have to get ready for the day.. since it is after 3pm now.. :)
Tracy